Swimming pool protective means



July 31, 1962 s. A. BERMAN 3,046,566

SWIMMING POOL PROTECTIVE MEANS Filed Dec. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H LHT H i I Fl 6 2 I INVENTOR.

BYSIMON A. BERMAN July 31, 1962 s. A. BERMAN 3,046,566

SWIMMING POOL PROTECTIVE MEANS Filed Dec. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

SIMON A. HERMAN United States Patent 3,046,566 SWllVllVllNG POOLPROTECTIVE MEANS Simon A. Berman, 447 E. 45th St., Brooklyn, NY. FiledDec. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 862,827 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This inventionrelates to swimming pool protective means and more particularly to aframed net and means to raise the frame.

Swimming pools, especially those at private homes,

have become very numerous. These pools have no lifeguards and are leftunattended for long periods of time. This presents quite a serioussafety problem since these pools are attractive to all the smallchildren in the neighborhood who are quite likely to fall into them.Many tragic drownings of this type have occurred. It is practicallyimpossible to protect these pools with fences as it is necessary to haveaccess gates which can not be locked at all times and fences can beclimbed over. Even rain water at times will present suflicient water ina pool to make it dangerous. Also when the pools are empty they presenta considerable hazard at night since a fall of six or eight feet onto aconcrete floor may be quite dangerous.

The present invention provides protective means which not only affords afoolproof cover when the pool is not in use but which is also adjustableto control the depth of the water in the pool for use by small children.In an emergency the present invention may also be used as a lifesavingdevice, which may be operated by anyone. The present device will alsokeep out foreign matter such as twigs, leaves, etc. in an outdoor pool,although it may be used in indoor pools as well.

More specifically, the present invention generally comprises a framednet which is adapted to lie on the bottom of the pool and which isconnected to vertical cables at the sides of the pool. A number ofpulleys are located around the sides of the pool, and each pulley has acable or wire connected to the frame. The pulleys are preferablyconnected together by means of shafting which is motor driven or theymay be driven by separate motors. The diameter of the pulleys isproportional to the depth of the pool at the location of each pulleystation so that when the framed net is raised, it will be substantiallylevel at the top of the pool. The frame is fitted to the sides of thepool sufliciently close enough to prevent anything and anyone fromgetting between the side of the frame and the side of the pool. Theframe may be adapted to any special shape of a pool. The irregularshape, however, would not affect the lifting, as that is in the verticaldirection. Suitable ratchet locks are preferably provided on each spoolso that the frame may be safely supported at any desired depth below thewater across the entire length and width of the pool for instance, tomake it safe for small children.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved swimming pool protective apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved swimmingpool protective apparatus wln'ch is adapted to completely cover the poolacross the top thereof when it is fully raised to prevent anyone andany-thing from falling into the pool.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved framednet means for swimming pools which are closely fitted to the sides ofthe pool so that nothing can fall between the side of the pool and theside of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved framednet means which are adapted to lie at the bottom of a swimming pool andwhich are adapted to be raised vertically by spools spaced around thepool to any desired depth.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved swimmingpool protective means comprising a tubular or other frame adapted to fitclosely to thesides of a swimming pool, a net on said frame, said framehaving rollers contacting the sides of the pool, means to raise theframed net vertically in an adjustable manner by motor driven liftingmeans, and control means for said motor means.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a spool and pulley drive for the invention.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of the 'invention.

FEGS. 5 and 7 are side detail views of an embodiment of the inventionshowing the net in raised positions.

FIG. 6 is a typical electrical circuit arrangement.

Referring to the figures the invention comprises a framed net 1 which.is fitted to the sides of the swimming pool 2 and which is adapted to beraised by the cables 3, 4, '5 spaced around the pool as will be morefully described.

The net comprises an outside frame for instance of aluminum which may beof a series of members or tubes 6, 7, 8 which are connected together andalso to a plurality of cross members It 11, 12. which are also lightmetal tubing or solid rods. The connections of the side members andcross members may be made with a T connection 1 equivalent to a plumbingT for copper tubing and the corner members may be connected by means ofa 90 degree or other angle elbow in similar fashion. Rollers may beadded to the frame to roll on one or more sides of the pool.

The frameis made to fit the sides of the pool as closely as possiblewhich is relatively easy in a rectangular shape pool. However, if thepool has an irregular shape the frame may be constructed to fit thesides thereof.

The frame is covered with a net 1 which may be of nylon, fiberglassand/or synthetic or metal mesh similar attached directly to a frame withrivets or equivalent.

The mesh may be attached to the cross members by sewing separate smallpieces on the underside of the mesh,

leaving an opening for the cross members, or by other conventionalmeans. i

The net is adapted to be raised by a series of power driven spoolscontained in the housings 13, 14, 15, etc. The size of the spools ischosen proportional to the depth of the pool at the particular locationso that when the net is fully raised it will be substantially level atthe top of the pool. The spools may be connected together by means ofshafting or if desired may be separately driven in synchronism byseparate motors by conventional control means C. If the spools areconnected by shafting to be driven by one motor the connecting shaftingis preferably covered by covers such as 16, 17, 18 connected betweenPatented July 31, 1962.

ings 14, 15, etc., all of the housings around the pool being connectedtogether in similar manner.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of a typical housing and spool 30 which isadapted to be driven by means of the shaft 31. Attached to this spool isa wire rope or cable 32 which may be of stainless steel or nylon. Thehousing FIG. 4 has a floor with an aperture 13' for the cable, toprevent children putting their hands in the machinery. The cable runsover a guide pulley 33 which extends over the side 34 of the pool. Thediameter of the spool is chosen proportional to the depth of the pool ata particular station so that a given number of revolutions of all thespools will raise the net substantially level at the top when the net israised from a position on the bottom of the pool. If the bottom of thepool has different angles of slope the side frames of the net arepreferably hinged at the points where the slope changes.

The cable 32 may be connected to the side frame by a loop in the cableor a clip device 29 may be pinned through or around the frame 28, FIG.4. A ratchet ii and pawl 41, FIG. 3, is preferably provided to lock thespool in any position so that the net may be set at any depth, forinstance when being used by small children. The ratchet may be manuallyoperated or preferably released by a solenoid 57 when the motor isenergized or when it is desired to lower the net. The motor ispreferably an electric motor of less than one to three or fivehorsepower for average size nets and is preferably reversible. If themotor is not reversible it may be disconnected so that the net sinks ofits own weight.

Alternatively, instead of having one motor with connecting shaftingextending all around the pool each housing may have a similar individualmotor 27, FIG. 3, all connected together to be actuated by a commoncontrol or controls C which may be located at some convenient place orplaces adjacent the pool or even at a remote location or locations forinstance inside a house. This will eliminate the need for shafting andcovers all around the pool and would facilitate installation. It hasbeen found that relatively small motors will raise a net in as little asfive seconds and larger motors will raise the net even quicker.Therefore my device may be used as a lifesaving device eliminating theneed of trained lifeguards. Audible and visible alarms 60, FIG. 6, arepreferably connected to be energized when the net is being raised orlowered.

FIG. 5 shows a detail view illustrating an arrangement which may be usedwhen the net 1 is raised within a few inches of the top of the pool. Awaterproof cover 42 may be placed on the net and over the edges 43, 4-4-of the pool. This arrangement may be used for covering the poolsemi-permanently, for instance during the winter time. The net may bereinforced in this position by means of clamps or brackets 45, 46, andthe water proof covering may be even covered with an inch or so of waterW for ice skating purposes in the winter time.

FIG. 6 shows a typical circuit arrangement for the motor control. Poweris applied through the On/Off switch 50 through a depth control seriesconnected switching means 51 to the motor 52. When the motor isenergized the rachets are opened by solenoids 57, 53 connected to theleads 53, 54. The depth switch 51 may have a counter connected to themotor by shaft 55 and have a calibrated dial 56 which may be calibratedin terms of percent of depth so that the motor will be turned off at thecorrect depth of the net. A reversing switch for reversing the power tothe motor may be incorporated if desired, if multiple motors are usedthey are connected in parallel in conventional manner. An audible andvisible alarm 60 is preferably connected to give warning when the net isbeing raised or lowered. Emergency push button controls may be locatedwherever convenient.

FIG. 7 shows the net 1 in fully raised position completely covering thepool.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. Protective means for a swirning pool comprising frame means fittingclosely inside the interior sides of said swimming pool, said framemeans comprising a series of straight members connected together, a neton said frame members, a plurality of spools around the edge of said 7swimming pool, a cable having one end connected to each of said spools,the other end of said cables being connected to said frame, a pluralityof electric motors each connected to one of said spools to raise saidnet, the diameter and rate of cable takeup of each spool beingproportional to the depth of said pool at the location of saidrespective spools whereby said net may be lifted to a substantiallylevel position at the top of said pool, electrical control meansconnected to said motors to operate said motors in synchronism, andalarm means connected to said electrical control means to give warningwhen said motors are operated to raise said net.

2. Electric motor control means for a swimming pool safety net,comprising a plurality of housings around a swimming pool, a spoolmounted in each housing, the di ameter of each spool being proportionalto the depth of said pool at the location of each of said spools, apulley connected to each housing in overhanging relation over the sideof said pool, an electric motor in each housing connected to one of saidspools, a cable connected to each of said spools, said housing beingcompletely enclosed except for a small aperture on the bottom thereofadapted to permit entry of one of said cables and electric motor controlmeans connected to drive said motors and spools in synchronisrn.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,918,437 Torrance July 18, l933 2,812,520 Pinckard Nov. 12, 19572,825,910 Prudek Mar. 11, 1958 2,898,607 McGuire Aug. 11, 1959 2,907,362Owen Oct. 6, 1959 2,928,103 Turner Mar. 15, 1960 2,957,582 Lusk Oct. 25,1960

